Skip to content

Constituent Assembly and Objectives Resolution Class 11

questionbuddy.in/cbse/class-11/political-science/constitution-why-and-how/making-of-the-constitution-constituent-assembly-and-objectives-resolution

Political ScienceCBSE Class 11 · Constitution: Why and How?

The Constituent Assembly and the Making of the Indian Constitution (Class 11 Political Science, Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 1)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946, had 299 members after Partition, worked in eight major committees for 166 days over two years and eleven months, adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and it came into force on 26 January 1950. Nehru's Objectives Resolution (1946) summed up its aims, and provisions were adapted from Britain, the US, Ireland, France and Canada.

Understand The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution

Why this topic matters. Dates, numbers and the Objectives Resolution are factual favourites (1-2 marks); the deliberative character and borrowed provisions give 3-5 mark questions.

1. Formation. The Assembly was elected for undivided India and held its first sitting on 9 December 1946; it reassembled as a body for divided India on 14 August 1947. Members were indirectly elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies set up under the Government of India Act 1935. Composition followed the Cabinet Mission plan roughly: about 1 seat per 10 lakh people; Provinces were to elect 292 members and Princely States were allotted a minimum of 93 seats; seats in each Province were divided among Muslims, Sikhs and general in proportion to population; each community elected its members by proportional representation with single transferable vote; Princely States' representatives were chosen by consultation.

2. After Partition. Under the plan of 3 June 1947, members from areas that went to Pakistan ceased to be members, leaving 299. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949; on 24 January 1950, 284 members signed it; it came into force on 26 January 1950. It committed to a citizenship in which religious identity has no bearing on citizenship rights.

3. Representativeness. Members were not elected by universal suffrage, but all religions were represented and there were 28 members from the Scheduled Castes. The Congress held about 82 per cent of seats after Partition but was so diverse that it accommodated almost all shades of opinion.

4. Deliberation. Disagreements were legitimate differences of principle (centralised or decentralised government, Centre-state relations, powers of the judiciary, property rights). Only universal suffrage passed with virtually no debate. Members practised public reason, giving principled reasons to others.

5. Procedures. Eight major committees, usually chaired by Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel or B.R. Ambedkar, drafted provisions, which the whole Assembly debated. It met for 166 days over two years and eleven months, with sessions open to the press and public.

6. Objectives Resolution. Moved by Nehru in 1946: India is an independent sovereign republic; a Union of territories; all power flows from the people; social, economic and political justice, equality and fundamental freedoms; safeguards for minorities and backward areas; territorial integrity; contribution to world peace. The Constitution thus expresses equality, liberty, democracy, sovereignty and a cosmopolitan identity. Ambedkar warned (25 November 1949) that political democracy needs social democracy based on liberty, equality and fraternity.

7. Institutions and borrowings. The Assembly adopted the parliamentary form and a federal arrangement. Provisions were adapted, not copied: from Britain the rule of law, the parliamentary system, first-past-the-post, the Speaker and law-making procedure; from the US judicial review, independent judiciary and fundamental rights; from Ireland the Directive Principles; from France liberty, equality and fraternity; from Canada residual powers and a quasi-federal design.

The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution: key facts

Assembly timeline
  • First sitting 9 Dec 1946
  • Reassembled 14 Aug 1947
  • Adopted 26 Nov 1949
  • Signed 24 Jan 1950
  • In force 26 Jan 1950
Key dates.
Numbers
  • 299 members after Partition
  • 284 signed
  • 28 Scheduled Caste members
  • 8 major committees
  • 166 days over 2 years 11 months
Facts.
Objectives Resolution
  • Sovereign republic
  • Union
  • Power from people
  • Justice, equality, freedoms
  • Minority safeguards
  • World peace
Moved by Nehru, 1946.
Borrowings
Britainparliamentary system, rule of law
USjudicial review, rights
IrelandDirective Principles
Franceliberty, equality, fraternity
Canadaresidual powers
Adapted, not copied.

How to answer The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution questions

Borrowed-provision items need country, provision and reason.

  1. 1Match each provision with its source country.
  2. 2Give the reason it suited India.
  3. 3Remember that the framers adapted, not copied.
  4. 4Close with one Ambedkar quote or idea.

The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A committee at work

Suppose a club forms eight committees, each with a leader, to draft sections of its rules, and then the whole club debates each draft in open meetings.

Which feature of the Constituent Assembly does this resemble?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Committees drafted provisions.
  2. The whole Assembly debated them in open sessions.

Answer: Its committee procedure and public deliberation.

Memory hook: Draft in groups, debate together.

Borrowed but adapted

Suppose a country adopts an idea from abroad but changes it to fit its own problems.

Which approach of the framers is this?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The framers borrowed widely but not as slavish imitation.
  2. Each provision had to be defended as suited to India.

Answer: Adaptation, not copying.

Memory hook: Borrow and fit.

Tricks to remember The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • 9-12-46, 26-11-49, 26-1-50

    First sitting, adoption, in force

    Use it when: Dates.

  • 299, 284, 28, 8, 166

    Members, signatures, SC members, committees, days

    Use it when: Numbers.

  • B-U-I-F-C

    Britain, US, Ireland, France, Canada

    Use it when: Sources.

The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Objectives Resolution · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The Objectives Resolution was moved in the Constituent Assembly by:
(A) B.R. Ambedkar
(B) Sardar Patel
(C) Jawaharlal Nehru
(D) Rajendra Prasad

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Nehru moved it in 1946 (1 mark).

Answer: (C)

Example 2: Directive Principles source · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

From which country did India adapt the Directive Principles of State Policy and from which the idea of liberty, equality and fraternity? (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Ireland (1 mark).
  2. France (1 mark).

Answer: The Directive Principles were adapted from Ireland, and the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity from France.

Example 3: Composition · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Explain how the Constituent Assembly was composed and why it was still considered representative. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Indirectly elected by Provincial Legislative Assemblies, roughly one seat per 10 lakh people (1 mark).
  2. Seats divided among communities, proportional representation with single transferable vote (1 mark).
  3. All religions and 28 Scheduled Caste members; Congress itself very diverse (1 mark).

Answer: The Assembly was indirectly elected by members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies under the 1935 Act, roughly one seat per 10 lakh people, with seats divided among communities and chosen by proportional representation with single transferable vote. Though not elected by universal suffrage, it was representative because all religions were present, there were 28 Scheduled Caste members, and the Congress, with about 82 per cent of seats, was itself very diverse.

Example 4: Assertion and reason: universal suffrage · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): Universal suffrage was adopted in the Constituent Assembly almost without debate.
Reason (R): The members saw it as the basic expression of their democratic commitment.
(A) Both true, R explains A
(B) Both true, R does not explain A
(C) A true, R false
(D) A false, R true

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The textbook treats the lack of debate on universal suffrage as the best testament to the Assembly's democratic commitment (1 mark).

Answer: (A)

Example 5: HOTS: Ambedkar's warning · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Source: "Political democracy cannot last unless at its base there is social democracy" (paraphrase of Ambedkar, 25 November 1949). Explain what he meant, link it to two points of the Objectives Resolution, and say what it asks of citizens and the state. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Political democracy means the right to vote and elected government (1 mark).
  2. Social democracy means a way of life recognising liberty, equality and fraternity as a union (1 mark).
  3. Objectives Resolution: social, economic and political justice (1 mark).
  4. Equality of status and opportunity and safeguards for minorities and backward classes (1 mark).
  5. Citizens and state must practise these values, not only hold elections (1 mark).

Answer: Ambedkar meant that voting and elected governments (political democracy) cannot last unless society also accepts liberty, equality and fraternity as one union (social democracy). The Objectives Resolution reflects this in its promise of social, economic and political justice and of equality of status and opportunity, along with safeguards for minorities and backward classes. It asks citizens and the state to practise these values in daily life and policy, not only to hold elections.

Where students lose marks in The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Giving 389 as members after Partition

    Number before Partition used.

    Wrong working

    The Assembly had 389 members after Partition.

    Right working

    The Assembly was planned with 389 members (292 Provinces + 93 Princely States + 4 Chief Commissioner provinces); after Partition (3 June 1947) it had 299.

    Do this: Link 299 with after 3 June 1947.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Saying elections to the Assembly were by universal suffrage

    Confusing with the Constitution.

    Wrong working

    Members were elected by all adults.

    Right working

    Members were indirectly elected by Provincial Legislative Assemblies.

    Do this: Say "indirect election".

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Mixing the dates of adoption and enforcement

    Both are close together.

    Wrong working

    Constitution adopted on 26 January 1950.

    Right working

    Adopted 26 November 1949; in force 26 January 1950.

    Do this: Pair the dates.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Learn the dates and numbers as a mini timeline.
  • For borrowings write country, provision and one-line reason.
  • Quote Ambedkar's trinity of liberty, equality and fraternity.

Practice questions on The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The number of members of the Constituent Assembly after Partition was:
    (A) 292
    (B) 299
    (C) 389
    (D) 284

    Hint

    Plan of 3 June 1947.

    Answer

    (B)

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Name the main committees' typical chairpersons mentioned in the chapter. (2 marks)

    Hint

    Four leaders.

    Answer

    The major committees were usually chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel or B.R. Ambedkar.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    What is meant by "public reason" in the Constituent Assembly? (3 marks)

    Hint

    Principled reasons.

    Answer

    Public reason means giving principled reasons to others rather than speaking from narrow self-interest. Members treated disagreements as legitimate differences of principle on matters like Centre-state relations and the judiciary, and offered reasons for their positions.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    State any four points of the Objectives Resolution. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Sovereign, power, justice.

    Answer

    India is an independent sovereign republic; it is a Union of territories that are autonomous units; all power flows from the people; everyone is assured social, economic and political justice, equality and fundamental freedoms; minorities and backward classes have safeguards; territorial integrity is maintained; and India contributes to world peace.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    A student claims "the Constitution was simply copied from other countries". Evaluate, with the borrowings and the framers' approach. (4 marks)

    Hint

    Adapted.

    Answer

    The claim is incorrect. The framers did borrow widely: the parliamentary system and rule of law from Britain, judicial review and fundamental rights from the US, Directive Principles from Ireland, liberty, equality and fraternity from France and residual powers from Canada. But they did not imitate slavishly: each provision had to be defended as suited to India's problems, as Ambedkar noted that a late constitution could add only variations to fit the country.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.When did the Assembly first meet?Show answer

    9 December 1946.

  2. 2.How many days did it meet?Show answer

    166 days over two years and eleven months.

  3. 3.Who moved the Objectives Resolution?Show answer

    Jawaharlal Nehru.

  4. 4.How many Scheduled Caste members?Show answer

    28.

The Making of the Indian Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Procedures and the Objectives Resolution: frequently asked questions

Was the Constitution approved by a referendum?

No; people adopted it by abiding by it.

What was the Cabinet Mission plan?

The plan broadly followed in composing the Assembly.

Which provision passed without debate?

Universal suffrage.